“Between Bets” is an article series revealing our staff’s best wagers across the NFL, College Football, NASCAR and PGA Tour. This edition’s bets feature our favorite 2024 College Football Playoff First-Round picks for ATS and totals markets.
Odds courtesy of DraftKings Sportsbook | Rankings courtesy of the College Football Playoffs seeding
2024 College Football Playoffs First-Round Picks (ATS & Totals)
#10 Indiana @ #7 Notre Dame | Friday, Dec. 20 @ 8:00 PM ET
The Battle of the Hoosier State will feature two of the most disciplined teams in the country. The seventh-seeded Notre Dame Fighting Irish are 7.5-point favorites against the 10th-seeded Indiana Hoosiers, with both programs boasting strong seasons.
Notre Dame is 9-2-1 ATS and 11-1 SU, with their only loss coming in an upset against Northern Illinois. Their marquee wins include road victories over Texas A&M, Georgia Tech, and USC, as well as a home victory against Louisville. The Irish have leaned on a run-heavy offense, ranking 10th in rushing, led by dual-threat QB Riley Leonard and RB Jeremiyah Love. Their defense is just as imposing, ranking ninth in total defense.
Indiana enters the playoffs with an impressive 9-3 ATS record and an 11-1 SU mark, their sole blemish coming against Ohio State. Their notable wins include victories over Michigan, Nebraska and Washington. Led by QB Kurtis Rourke and RB Justice Ellison, the Hoosiers possess a balanced offensive attack. Defensively, they have the No. 1 rushing defense and the 10th-best passing defense, making this matchup with Notre Dame’s run-heavy approach particularly intriguing.
The weather is projected to be frigid, with temperatures dipping to 27 degrees at kickoff, which could further impact scoring. Indiana’s ability to neutralize the run and Notre Dame’s struggles to air it out make this a battle likely won in the trenches. With both teams set to lean on their defensive strengths, the under looks like a strong play.
Pick: Under 50.5 (-110)
#12 Clemson @ #5 Texas | Saturday, Dec. 21 @ 4:00 PM ET
The fifth-seeded Texas Longhorns opened as 11-point favorites against the 12th-seeded Clemson Tigers in what promises to be a hard-fought clash. Clemson enters this matchup riding the momentum of their ACC Championship victory, sealed with a 56-yard game-winning field goal. Despite their 6-7 ATS record, the Tigers have shown flashes of brilliance, led by QB Cade Klubnik and RB Phil Mafah. Offensively, they rank 12th in total offense, but their defense has been a weak spot, ranking 60th against the pass and 73rd against the run. Injuries to WR Tyler Brown and RB2 Jay Haynes could further limit their effectiveness.
Texas, meanwhile, has had an up-and-down season, entering this game with an 11-2 SU record and a 7-6 ATS mark. After a second loss to Georgia in the SEC Championship, the Longhorns have seen their offensive production dip, now ranking 18th in total offense. QB Quinn Ewers has struggled to sustain drives, and Texas has scored an average of just 22.5 points over the past month. However, their defense has been elite, ranking first against the pass and 15th against the run.
Texas has been a reliable under team this season, going 8-3-2 to the under. Clemson’s struggles against SEC defenses this year, scoring just 17 total points in two games, further bolster the case for a low-scoring affair.
Pick: Under 51.5 (-112)
#9 Tennessee @ #8 Ohio State | Sat, Dec. 21 @ 8:00 PM ET
The first round of the College Football Playoffs concludes in Columbus, Ohio, where the eighth-seeded Ohio State Buckeyes are 7.5-point favorites against the ninth-seeded Tennessee Volunteers. Ohio State comes into this game with a chip on their shoulder following a tough loss to Michigan at The Horseshoe, their second loss of the season after falling to Oregon earlier in the year. Despite these setbacks, the Buckeyes have impressive wins over Penn State and Indiana and boast a defense ranked first in total defense, including second against the pass and seventh against the run.
Offensively, Ohio State has struggled to establish consistency in the ground game, ranking 59th in rushing. Still, they feature a dynamic backfield, with TreVeyon Henderson and Quinshon Judkins both averaging impressive efficiency. The passing attack, ranked 38th, is spearheaded by Will Howard, throwing to one of the nation’s top receiving corps, including Jeremiah Smith and Emeka Egbuka.
Tennessee enters at 7-5 ATS with a balanced offensive attack. They rank 65th in passing offense and ninth in rushing, but the Volunteers struggled mightily against Georgia and Oklahoma, scoring just 17 points combined in those matchups. QB Nico Iamaleava, hailing from Long Beach, Calif., will face frigid temperatures (high of 37 degrees) and a hostile environment.
Look for Ohio State’s elite defense to dictate the game, forcing Tennessee to rely on a ground game that is unlikely to find much success. The Buckeyes have the talent and motivation to bounce back and cover this number at home.
Pick: Ohio State -7.5 (-110)
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*Photo Credit: Adam Cairns/Columbus – USA TODAY Sports*
